Sed-Gyued Lineage

The lineage of Sed-Gyued is based on its pure tradition of an unbroken line descending from Jetsun Sherab Senge, founder of the Sed-Gyued Monastery and a disciple of Je Tsong Khapa Lobsang Dakpa.

The lineage is passed on from one Great Master of the Sed-Gyued Monastery to the next one, and no reincarnation was ever recognized according to the tradition of the Sed-Gyued Lineage.

All lineage holders of Sed-Gyued are monks of the monastery. They receive all teachings from their master and practice both Tantra and Sutra throughout their life, thus becoming masters themselves. In Sed-Gyued tradition, there are no written documents for future reincarnations of the Great Masters, and the lineage holders in future will always remain practical philosophers and learned lamas.

Jetsun Sherab Senge

Great Masters of Sed-Gyued Lineage

Damchen Chogyal

Lineage holders are as follows

H.H. The Jamgon Lama Tsongkhapa-Chenpo

H.E. Jetsun Sherab Sengye

1. H.E. Dhol-Nag-Palden-Sangpo

2. H.E. Rhoktso-Choe-Tse-Nawang Dakpa

3. H.E. Jamyang Gedun Phel

4. H.E. Rabjam-Choeki-Yhing

5. H.E. Lama Tashi Phakpa

6. H.E. Penchen Samdrup Gyalgtso

7. H.E. Nyi-Nying-Choeji Sonam Gyaltsen

8. H.E. Gyuedchen Tsundu Phakpa

9. H.E. Khedrup Dorjee Sangpo

10. H.E. Gyuedchen Sangye Gyatso

11. H.E. Tsechen Jampa Gyatso

12. H.E. Dorjee Chang Kunchok Gyatso

13. H.E. Dejorpa-Khedrup Gendun Gyatso

14. H.E. Lama Rinchen Gyatso

15. H.E. Robjampa-Choekyi-Wangchuk

16. H.E. Phuk-Chenpa

17. H.E. Sherab Rinchen

18. H.E. Palden Chokjin

19. H.E. Choegyal Gonpo

20. H.E. Choklek Woser

21. H.E. Gyued Chen Kunchok Yarphel

22. H.E. Nawang Lobsang Yeshi

23. H.E. Go-mangpo-Rabjam-Mhawa-Loden

24. H.E. Aepa Rabjam-Mhawa-Yeshi

25. H.E. Sed-Gyued Tendar

26. H.E. Sed-Gyued Sangye Woser

27. H.E. Sed-Gyued Dher Hen Nagwang Namgyal

For the period of 1702 to 1932 no records exist. Our knowledge of lineage holders suffers a gap of 230 years. The names of the 28th to the 89th Great Masters are unknown.

90. H.E. Namgyal Chophel

91. H.E. Tsultim Chophel

92. H.E. Palden Gyatso

93. H.E. Markhampa Jampa Tashi

94. H.E. Thubten Dargye

95. H.E. Lobsang Tendar

96. H.E. Trihor Jampa Tashi

97. H.E. Sed-Gyued Dorjee Chang Jampa Wangyal

98. H.E. Gyued-Med Khensur Thutop Gonpo

99. H.E. Gyued-Tod Khensur Ngawang Jorden

100. H.E. Gyued-Med Khensur Lobsang Delek

To the 21st Sed-Gyued Dorjee Chang Kunchok Yarphel, the lineage holders are known as the great Secret whispered Lineage holders. Whispered lineage is secret teaching transmitted only to the closest disciples through direct communication with their root teacher or meditation deity. His Holiness the fifth Dalai Lama too greatly appreciated and declared that Dorjee Chang Kunchok Yarphel as an excellent master and a lord of whispered lineage.

Sed-Gyued Dorjee Chang Kunchok Yarphel once asked Dham-Chen Chogyal, the Great Dharma Protector, to gather before him any suitable disciples as he was quite old. As a result, Jamshed Nawang Tsundu, Cheang-kya Nawang Chokden and other suitable disciples came to Tsang province in Central Tibet to meet Sed-Gyued Dorjee Chang Kunchok Yarphel and received from him empowerments and oral transmissions of Guyasamaja, Heru,-Kapa, Yamantaka and other teachings. Gelukpa Tantras confines within Sed-Gyued Lineage of Traditional Tantras. Besides, Gelukpas Guru Yoga is based on Sed-Gyuedpa's Guru Yoga Gaden Lha-Gyama.

In 2005, due to health problems and old age, H.E. Sed-Gyued Dorjee Chang T.N. Jampa Wangyal Rinpoche requested His Holiness the XIVth Dalai Lama to appoint a Khenpo for smooth running of Sed-Gyued Institute of Buddhist Studies (Monastery), Salugara, India. At present total responsibility to teaching all Sed-Gyued tradition goes to Khenpo who is jointly appointed by H.H. the Dalai Lama and Department of Religion and Culture of the Tibetan Government in Exile. The official tenure of each Khenpo will be three years from the date of assuming responsibility. After completion of three year tenure they will be relieved by H.H. the Dalai Lama and Cultural Department of exile Government by appointing another Khenpo. All the Khenpo so appointed will be the pass-out learned and master philosopher from Gyued-Tod and Gyued-Med Tantric University from South India. The responsibility of Khenpo is particularly to teach Sed-Gyued traditions only. All the responsibility of management of Monastery goes to the elected Governing Body of the Monastery.

H.E. Sed-Gyued Dorjee Chang Jampa Wangyal

H.E. Gyued-Tod Khensur Ngawang Jorden

H.E. Gyued-Med Khensur Thutop Gonpo

H.E. Gyued-Med Khensur Lobsang Delek

Reincarnation

According to Sed-Gyued Tradition, all previous Gyued-Chen lineage holders ascended the Sed-Gyued throne after successfully completing their studies, practicing tantric rituals and serving in the propagation and protection of the sacred tradition. There is no tradition of reincarnation, once they pass away. There is no historical record, nor is there any written proof of existence of a Gyued-Chen incarnation.

In this period of declining Dharma activities, we felt the need of a true Dharma teacher and sought an audience with H. H. the Dalai Lama on 26th August 1992. We made a fervent plea to investigate the existence of reincarnations of Gyued-Chen Konchok Yarphel or some of the earlier Gyued-Chen lineage holders, as a few of them were believed to have incarnated.

On 26th December 1994, we received a reply from His Holiness confirming the existence of several emanations of such great masters. However, His Holiness adviced us to keep the status quo concerning the search for reincarnations, as the Mo observation He had done on this subject was not in favour of a change.

If, in future, any reincarnation were to appear, it were up to His Holiness the Dalai Lama to accept and confirm this appearance, while we would accept His decision. Fake reincarnations are of no help to anyone and rather bear the risk of destabilizing our traditional culture.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama on Sed-Gyued Monastery

"Sed-Gyued Monastery, Salugara, is the main seat of the Sed-Gyued lineage or whispered lineage. Whispered lineage is a secret teaching transmitted only to the closest disciple through direct communication with their root teacher or meditational deity ... It is because of the unbroken secret teachings of Sed-Gyued lineage and commentaries that the Tibetan secret Mahayana practice is intact today ... The purpose of Sed-Gyued Monastery is to preserve and promote the unique tantric study, practice, experiences and culture of this lineage, as well as the subsequent lineage holders and Sed-Gyued masters ... I appreciate and admire Sed-Gyued Dorjee Chang Jampa Wangyal Rinpoche for his tireless effort to preserve the Sed-Gyued tradition. I wish and pray for the better establishment and further development of Sed-Gyued Monastery.”

29th September 1999, Gyued-Med Tantric University, Hunsur, India